Political Quotes

“We are still waiting for a speaker, but I would inquire of the gentlewoman if she is prepared to close, we will go ahead and close. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, before I get into my prepared remarks and close, just in response to my good friend's last remark, I want her to be aware, we don't have an appropriations bill or budget because my friends, frankly, have riddled what happened in the Appropriations Committee with poison pills, taking out the Hyde protections. We have been waiting to negotiate that. Our friends have refused to do that. It has been extended now to February 18. I hope that we meet that deadline and that we actually do get an agreed-upon appropriations bill. If we do, I would be happy to support it, as I have so many years in the past. Mr. Speaker, in passing a final, bipartisan, bicameral version of the NDAA, we are fulfilling our responsibility to provide for the common defense. This would mark the 61st year in a row that Congress has passed a final NDAA, and I celebrate that fact. This year's bill increases defense spending to a level commensurate with our needs, unlike the President's budget. It ensures a needed pay raise for our troops and ensures that the warfighters of tomorrow will have the weapons and capabilities they need. It will also provide needed oversight over the President's debacle in Afghanistan and will ensure that the American people receive the answers they deserve.…”